50 stunning Olympic moments No46: GB win hockey gold at Seoul 1988 | Sport | The Guardian 50 stunning Olympic moments No46: GB win hockey gold at Seoul 1988 How an eight-year dream turned into glorious reality Great Britain's Richard Leman, left, Imran Sherwani and Martyn Grimley celebrate their gold medal win over West Germany at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Photo: BTS Wednesday 4 July 2012 04.00 EDT First published on Wednesday 4 July 2012 04.00 EDT Share on Messenger Close Late July 2008 and ahead of competing at the Beijing Games, the forwards from Great Britain’s men’s Olympic hockey team are gathered around a breakfast table at their Bisham Abbey training base. The press are in town and it is not long before the question James Tindall, Simon Mantell, Matt Daly, Jonty Clarke and Stephen Dick were expecting to crop up is fired their way. Why Olympians shine under the spotlight Read more “Can you name the players who won hockey gold for Britain 20 years ago?” asks one of the reporters.

“Sean Kerly …” comes the tentative response, followed by complete, collective silence. The reporters close in and one suggests British hockey has hardly made the most of that victory in Seoul in terms of keeping the sport in the public consciousness and that it is a real shame the heroes of 1988 have become so easily forgotten. Then, in what seems like a blink of an eye, one of the men in the blue and red Team GB tracksuits hits back: “David Faulkner, Imran Sherwani, Stephen Batchelor, Ian Taylor, Richard Leman, Stephen Martin, Kulbir Bhaura, Paul Barber. And Kerly. Obviously.” Raucous laughter suddenly fills the room and it is later pointed out that Tindall, Mantell and co are aware that others, such as the captain Richard Dodds, Jon Potter, and Martyn Grimley, also won gold two decades ago. Of course they had not been forgotten. How could they be? Seoul ‘88 is to British hockey what Wembley ‘66 is to English football, and then some.

The triumph was the nation’s first in the sport at that level – gold had been won by a purely English side at the 1908 and 1920 Games, in London and Antwerp respectively – and created instant heroes of amateurs who prior to the Olympics were barely recognisable faces in their own streets. Well perhaps Sherwani was – the scorer of two goals in the 3-1 final victory over West Germany had in 1988 also been a newsagent in Cobridge, Staffordshire. Unlike that of 1966, this success was also secured on foreign soil and in the particularly alien conditions of South-east Asia. Kerly and co not only beat Australia and West Germany en route to the high-point of their careers, they also overcame searing heat and exhausting altitude. Little wonder, then, that every generation since has been reminded of the heroes of Seoul. What took place in South Korea was, above all, a triumph for long-term planning and the art of using a slump as motivation to strive for greatness, twin processes which had their roots in the formation of the British Hockey Board in 1948.

The organisation was put together in response to the individual successes of England, Scotland and Wales in the pre-war era and, initially, appeared a step in the right direction as Britain took silver at the 1948 Games in London, losing 4-0 in the Wembley final to an impressive India side. But from there a decline set in motion, beginning at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics when Britain finished up with a bronze medal on the back of a farcical period of preparation during which the BHB voted to withdraw the team from the competition only for officials from England and Wales to veto the move. There were no medals at all in Melbourne four years later, or in Rome in 1960, before things got really bad. Britain finished eighth at the Tokyo Olympics and then 12th in Mexico in 1968 before salvaging some pride with a sixth-place finish in Munich four years later. But humiliation was back in 1976, when the team were not even present for the Montreal Games despite the withdrawal of 25 African countries protesting at New Zealand’s sporting links with South Africa.

The team were also denied the chance to compete at the 1980 Moscow Games following the BHB’s decision to adhere to the British Government’s boycotting of the event. 1980 was, however, to prove a decisive year. Fed up with their decline, the BHB appointed the single-minded Roger Self as manager of the British team and gave him the time and authority to put together a gold medal-winning campaign. He, in turn, made what would prove to be the shrewd decision of hiring David Whitaker as the coach. The former Great Britain international had more than 100 caps to his name but very little coaching experience and, as such, was deemed a risky appointment. But Whitaker had a plan, one based on focusing on the mental preparation of his players to ensure they went into every match believing victory was in their grasp. The fruits of Whitaker’s work was evident at the 1984 Olympics, when Britain won bronze after stepping in at the last minute following the USSR’s withdrawal.

They came through their five pool games in Los Angeles unbeaten before losing by a single goal to West Germany in the semi-final and then beating Australia, who had started the Games as favourites, 3-2 in the third-place match. It was a stunning performance from a side short on preparation but clearly not lacking in belief. More success followed at the 1986 World Cup when Britain, as hosts, finished with a silver medal, losing to Australia in the final at Willesden. By that stage the bulk of the side had been together for six years and, under Self and Whitaker, formed a collective sense of purpose based on improved performances. It was no surprise, then, that they headed to Seoul in buoyant mood. “We were seeded second for the Olympics but the only thing we wanted to achieve was the gold medal,” said Sherwani. “Two years before, Britain had reached the World Cup final. We were so happy just to be there we neglected the fact that we were there to win it. The guys adopted a different frame of mind before Seoul.

Our thoughts were firmly fixed on winning gold.” The sense of destiny only grew after the goalkeeper Ian Taylor was chosen to be Britain’s flag-bearer for the opening ceremony, but there then came a quick and sudden crash as the team were held to a 2-2 draw with South Korea in their opening pool game. A victory over Canada followed but then came a 2-1 defeat to West Germany, with the winning goal originating from the decision of the umpire, Don Prior, to award a rather dubious penalty to the 1984 silver medallists. A second defeat to West Germany at consecutive Olympics could have been taken as a sign that the gold medal was not going to be after all, but under the captaincy of Dodds, a full-time surgeon and part-time midfielder who had been leading the side since 1983, Britain rallied immediately with victories over the USSR and India to secure a semi-final place against the top-seed and favourites, Australia. It was in this match that Kerly’s status as the star turn of British hockey was firmly established.

Then aged 28, the striker was already highly regarded having scored seven goals during the 1984 Games, but a hat-trick against the Australians turned him into an overnight, national sensation, nudging Gary Lineker out of the spotlight following the England football striker’s failure with the national team at Euro ‘88. Kerly had a bit of bite about him, too: the grammar schoolboy from Whitstable who swore occasionally was not afraid to raise his stick at an opponent. “I was a bit rough around the edges and a bit feisty,” he said. “I was up for a fight with anybody. Oh, and my name was heaven for the headline writers.” Britain, after all, were about to grab Germany by the “Sean and Kerlys”, with their 3-2 win over Australia – they had led 2-0 before being pegged back to 2-2 – setting up a final showdown with the team of Heiner Dopp, Carsten Fischer and the towering forward Stefan Blöcher. In front of a crowd of 12,000 at the Seongnam Stadium on a humid, early October day, history was in the offing.

Self and Whitaker had instilled a level of confidence within the British squad which made them believe victory was possible over a team who had beaten them in their last two Olympic clashes, and their spirits were raised further after discovering Blöcher had been ruled out of the match due to a blow to the head suffered in West Germany’s 2-1 semi-final win over Holland. Along with belief there was also a tactical plan. The Germans were expected to play with a blanket defence in which 11 players would be placed behind the ball in a narrow, compact formation. It was decided, then, that Britain would attack from the flanks. The strategy quickly proved successful as Britain took a first-half lead with Sherwani’s first goal of the game, which resulted from the player cutting in from the left wing, moving past two German defenders and striking the ball into an open net. The lead gave Britain motivation to attack with even more numbers, which pinned West Germany back but also left them vulnerable to the counterattack, and there were spells in the first-half when the opposition created chances to equalise.

Fortunately, Taylor was having the game of his life while the defence in front of him was in commanding form, no one more so than Barber, who was earning his 99th and final international cap. Britain doubled their advantage in the second half thanks to Kerly’s eighth goal of the tournament. The men in red, black and white were on top now and it came as little surprise when Sherwani made it 3-0, again coming in from the left-wing to slide in Batchelor’s excellent cross from the right. That goal not only sealed a golden moment for Britain but also led to one of the most famous lines in TV sporting commentary: “Where were the Germans?” said a delirious Barry Davies as Batchelor fell to his knees in celebration. “And frankly, who cares.” Dopp did score for Germany but it was no more than a consolation. Britain were Olympic hockey champions. “I remember standing on the podium, looking down at the Germans on one side and the Australians on the other knowing we had won a gold medal – it was a big day for us,” said Kerly, who like the rest of the squad returned to Britain as heroes. Television appearances followed and a brief but generally enjoyable moment in the national spotlight.

“It was great fun,” added Kerly, not surprisingly, perhaps, given his perks of celebrity included being paid £2,000 for reading out a few words at a dry-cleaners’ conference shortly after the Games. Hockeyroo Anna Flanagan snubbed for Rio despite clearance Read more Seoul was the culmination of an eight-year dream that turned into a glorious reality and, as such, it was no surprise that the team broke up soon after. Dobbs and Barber were among the bulk of players who retired while those who continued to play did so at a less vaulted level. Sherwani helped Leek hockey club reach domestic league status while Kerly, now a 52-year-old grandfather, still turns out for Canterbury’s sixth team. Others continued to play a role in the national game, with Self becoming president of Great Britain’s Olympic Hockey Board in 2005 and holding the position for two years, while Whitaker wrote three books on hockey coaching. Faulkner, meanwhile, is the performance director for GB hockey and has stated his belief that at London 2012 the men and women’s teams can match the achievements of 24 years ago.

“They both have the talent to do so,” he says. Watching on will be Kerly in his role as a BBC pundit. And the man he will be speaking alongside? Barry Davies. As ever with British hockey, it always comes back to 1988. The heroes of 88: Great Britain stunned the Seoul Games. But where are they now? | Daily Mail Online The heroes of '88: Great Britain stunned the Seoul Games. But where are they now? MEDALS TABLE In Seoul, 24 years ago, Great Britain’s hockey men won Olympic gold for the only time since the war. Sean Kerly scored a hat-trick in the 3-2 semi-final win over Australia, then another goal to add to Imran Sherwani’s double in the final as West Germany were beaten 3-1. Sherwani’s clincher led to BBC commentator Barry Davies’s immortal line: ‘Where were the Germans — but frankly, who cares?’ Now with their 2012 successors on the verge of emulating the feat, Sportsmail reunites the boys of ’88...

Golden boys: Imran Sherwani and Sean Kerly show off their medals Sean Kerly 'It was like the worst dental appointment.' The build-up to the semi-final was huge. The Australians had won everything in the other group and we’d just about come second in ours. They were the form team, the world champions, world No 1 but hadn’t performed at the Olympics and so were under pressure. We went 2-0 up and were still jumping around when they scored. It got tense, they got stuck in and equalised. We were exhausted and thinking we had maybe thrown it away. But I turned to Richard Dodds, the captain, with about 15 minutes to go and said: ‘We are not going to lose this game.’ From that moment on we turned it round. We managed to get the third goal and win. By getting to the final we’d achieved our world ranking, No 2, so I felt more relaxed in the final. Our vice-captain, Paul Barber, did the pre-match talk. He was our scariest man. He went round the room and told a few home truths, including to me. He said: ‘Everyone thinks you’re good, but I’m not so sure.

It’s time you went out and proved it. ‘You’ve got a little daughter at home, what’s she going to think about it?’ It brought out the emotion. I walked out feeling I was going to do whatever I needed to do. The final whistle went and it was just massive relief. I wouldn’t say elation was the word. It’s like the worst dental appointment you’ve ever had. It’s all over and you haven’t messed it up. It’s just fantastic to be in that position. Job done. Steve Batchelor 'The Korean crowd went mad with pom poms.' It’s probably one of the best moments of your life really; going through with a group of mates. It was a rollercoaster ride, for sure. We got better as the tournament went on. We were talking about a gold medal beforehand. For the final, the mood was calm — everybody thought, ‘We’ve got a chance.’ I remember my assist for the third goal, partly because it was shown over and over again. I picked up the ball, dribbled past Horst-Ulrich Hanel and passed it when I went into the D. If I’m honest, I didn’t know anyone was there.

I was aware of the keeper but didn’t see Imran Sherwani sprinting from the halfway line. I’m going to take the praise because I gave him an open goal, but he did do a lot of running to get there. I just went crazy. The Korean crowd went mad with those pom poms. Done and dusted: Sherwani hit the crucial third Done and dusted: Sherwani hits the crucial third Imran Sherwani 'I just pegged it.' We were so confident. I did feel we were going to win. The first goal in the final was the ice-breaker. I was not well known as a goalscorer but Steve Batchelor and I were feared because we would take players on down the wing. I remember it almost like it was in slow motion. I stopped the ball, saw the German defender coming out towards me, so tucked it inside. Then I noticed that the German goalkeeper had committed himself too early and was in mid-air when I pushed it. On TV it doesn’t look like it’s going in, but I was behind it all the way and knew it would.

As for the third goal, I was on our own 25 when David Faulkner chipped the ball down the right and I just pegged it to the edge of the circle. The timing was such that as Steve flung it across it looked like I had an easy put in. But I had actually sprinted the length of the pitch. It’s very vivid in my mind. Barry Davies (commentator) 'I was biased but I think that’s forgivable.' I get reminded of it a lot. The boys have invited me along to reunions they’ve had. They’re a great bunch. I never doubted during the final that they were going to win. The doubt came in the semi-final, which was the better match and showed Sean’s determination to get them out of trouble. He scored quite a remarkable goal. The line that everyone seems to remember from the final came out of simplicity. I wrapped up the goal, gave credit to Steve Batchelor and Imran Sherwani and then I thought to myself: ‘Where on earth were the German defence? They were cut to ribbons.’ As I was thinking that, I thought, ‘Who gives a stuff!’ It’s about trying to find words for the moment.

It had a resonance somehow. I was biased but I think that was forgivable. You’re bound to see the game through Great British eyes. I didn’t understand at all until we got back to England and people started to talk about it. Then: 1988 hockey team Barry Davies' Olympic Moments: Britain's hockey gold in 1988 - BBC Sport BBC Sport Barry Davies' Olympic Moments: Britain's hockey gold in 1988 By Barry Davies Olympic Games broadcaster since Mexico 1968 16 Jul 2012 Media playback is not supported on this device 'Where were the Germans?' In a 10-part series, BBC broadcaster Barry Davies recalls the most memorable Olympic moments of his 44 years on air from the Games. Commentators sometimes say things which you know afterwards, though not at the time, are what everybody else would have said. It happened to me in the semi-final of Euro '96, when Gareth Southgate missed his penalty. All I said was, "Oh, no!" - and that, with a few adjectives added in, was what most people around the country said. Commentary has to be spontaneous.

You just pray that at the moment when it really matters, as Kenneth Wolstenholme proved all those years ago, you find the right words to add to the picture. GB's Imran Sherwani remembers In June, Imran Sherwani - scorer of two goals for GB in the final - recalled the game and Barry Davies' commentary. "Ah, the famous commentary from good old Barry. "I always get asked about it. I rarely go a week without someone mentioning it to me. "Barry is a fabulous supporter of hockey and he has stated that it was one of the greatest moments he has witnessed at an Olympics. "The fact that I scored two in the final and had the famous commentary puts me to the fore but it was very much a team effort." At the Seoul 1988 Olympics, like the British hockey team, I had no idea what effect was being had on people back home in Britain. The British men touched a spark with the public which they did not appreciate. They went to the Games as the number two seeds but right from the start, things were not straightforward.

They drew 2-2 with South Korea having been 2-0 up and there was a little bristling on the field, an altercation or two. Then they lost to West Germany and at the end you could see them looking around, thinking: "That's it, we've blown it." But other results meant they had not quite yet blown it - provided they won every match from that point onwards. And that concentrated their minds hugely. They got to the semi-final, a superb game where Britain took a two-goal lead, let Australia back into it, then were saved by a brave goal from Sean Kerly. The final itself was not as good as that match and, in my mind, I don't think I had any doubt that Britain would go on to win it. They scored good goals at the right times, moved the ball around quickly, and Imran Sherwani had a great game down the left side. Every player in the team played well and it became a wonderful occasion. People who knew nothing about hockey got up at six o'clock in the morning in Britain to watch it. The team produced something which got a response from the public.

When Britain's third goal was scored - a tap-in from Sherwani - I began recapping it and, as I'm doing that, I'm thinking to myself: Hang on a minute. It's a knife-through-butter situation, there was no defender around. What were they doing, the Germans? So I said: "Where were the Germans?" And as I'm saying that, I'm thinking: Who gives a stuff where the Germans were? We're going to win this! I have to admit the 'we' was there. I was guilty of supporting Great Britain. So then I added: "Frankly, who cares?" Because I didn't, and I doubt if anybody watching in Britain did. Media playback is not supported on this device Britain win Olympic hockey gold The game ended with a 3-1 win for Britain and after the match it was total chaos.

The ceremony took a long time to come together and that allowed for all sorts of little cameos - the players' wives sat on the rostrum for photographs, the team bowed to the beautifully dressed Korean ladies who had turned up to every match, the minister for sport was lifted off his feet by one of the players, and in the middle of all of this was HRH Princess Anne, walking through the melee with absolute delight. Sport is nothing without emotion and commentary is the art of finding the right words. You don't always know whether you've found them or not - sometimes, you're stupid enough to find them and then add a few more words which take away from what you have just said. It's a matter of fortune. All I'm trying to do is open my mouth and hope my foot is sufficiently removed from it. Share this page BBC SPORT | BBC TEAM | Rider's legends: Sean Kerly Monday, 18 September, 2000, 06:06 GMT 07:06 UK Rider's legends: Sean Kerly Keeper Ian Taylor and Sean Kerly go for Olympic glory BBC Olympics presenter Steve Rider highlights some of the great Olympians from the pages of history.

There is nothing like Olympic success to drive a 'backwater' sport into the depth of a nation's conscience. In 1988 at the Games in Seoul, the sport was hockey and the success was Britain's. Even for the uninitiated the concept of 11 men trying to get a ball into the back of the net was hardly alien and Britain's march to the gold medal captivated a home audience of millions who earlier that year had seen England's soccer team flop at the European Championships in Germany. From a glorious team effort emerged hockey's first superstar as top scorer Sean Kerly was given media attention normally reserved for the likes of Gary Lineker at that time. Sean Kerly: Leaping into the history books Kerly had been with the British team that won bronze four years earlier in Los Angeles and was in the England side which lost the 1986 World Cup final to Australia. So Britain were far from outsiders in 1988 and qualified from the group stages in second place after losing to a late penalty against Germany to set themselves up for a semi-final against favourites Australia. Chemistry "It's difficult to put a finger on exactly why we came good as a nation at that particular time," said Kerly.

"I suppose most of us had been together for four years, as the majority of the team were in the England side, and gradually improved as a unit. We had a good management team, we were the right age and the chemistry throughout the team was right. Kerly: Still working in hockey "We just got better and better and more stubborn. We were a hard team to beat." In the semi-final against Australia, Great Britain showed all those qualities. Leading 2-0 thanks to two Kerly strikes, Australia pulled the game level. But the British team gave it one last go and in Boy's Own fashion won the game as Kerly completed his hat-trick late in the match. And so to the final and a match for fans to savour - GB v West Germany - and for once the glory did not go to the Germans as Imran Sherwani (2) and Kerly put the Brits 3-0 up on the way to a 3-1 victory. Focus Kerly said such had been the team's focus they had been unaware of the euphoria back home but took quiet satisfaction from their glory.

Steve Batchelor leads the final celebrations "It was a massive relief that we had taken the opportunity to win gold," said Kerly. "You don't to get too many chances to win an Olympic gold and I was glad we had taken the opportunity and not let history pass us by. "The main feeling for me was that we had done it. It was only much later that it sank in and I started to enjoy it. I still get recognised occasionally and I feel lucky that even now people still want to talk about it and in such a postitive way." I was glad we had taken the opportunity and not let history pass us by Sean Kerly Hockey's moment in the sun was brief however and the sport was never able to sustain its media profile after the gold medal performance. These days Kerly works as a marketing manager for an independent school in Canterbury where he also coaches the city's National Hockey League team but is also working hard to revive TV interest in a sport played by around three million people "Many players are in their mid-20s who took it up on the back of our success.

Unfortunatey there was never the infrastructure in place to keep the sport in the media eye." Search BBC Sport Online Golden Scots: Seoul 1988 Olympic gold for Veryan Pappin - BBC Sport BBC Sport Golden Scots: Seoul 1988 Olympic gold for Veryan Pappin 8 Jul 2012 Read more about sharing. Veryan Pappin won gold as the last-minute substitute for the men's field hockey team at the Seoul Olympic Games. Scotland's Pappin (second from left, above) was selected as reserve goalkeeper for the 1988 Great Britain Olympic Games hockey squad behind Ian CB Taylor. Taylor was recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in the world and it seemed that Pappin had little chance of replacing him in the team. The way to the final Veryan Pappin Twelve national hockey teams qualified for the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The twelve were organised into two pools of six. Germany and Great Britain were part of Pool B, alongside India, Soviet Union, Korea and Canada. On 22 September, Germany beat the British side 1-2 and went on to win the pool.

The Great Britain team took second place in Pool B and also proceeded to the semi-finals. Germany played the Netherlands in one of the semi-finals, winning 2-1. However, Stefan Blocher, one of Germany's key players suffered a head injury from a high ball and did not take part in the final. In the other semi, Sean Kerly scored a hat-trick for GB to overcome Australia 3-2. The final As the first team goalkeeper, Ian CB Taylor started in goals for Great Britain. In a fast and hard-fought game, the decision was taken to substitute Taylor in the dying minutes. Pappin took his place in the goalmouth, where he remained until the final whistle blew. Imran Sherwani scores the winning goal Great Britain, with Pappin in goals, had beaten Germany 3-1 to win the Olympic gold. As part of the 1984 team, Pappin had previously won an bronze medal at the Los Angeles Olympic Games. Veryan Pappin now works in Abu Dhabi where he studies the coastal and terrestrial environment of the Gulf region.

Olympic hockey Hockey first entered the Olympic Games at London in 1908, but did not reappear until Antwerp in 1920. It has remained part of the Olympic programme ever since, with women's hockey being introduced in 1980. Between the Olympic Games of Amsterdam 1928 and Melbourne/Stockholm 1956, India was the dominant force in international hockey, winning all six Olympic golds. Olympic hockey games were originally played on grass, with artificial turf being introduced in the 1970s. Although they continue to play in hockey's top echelons, the move to artificial turf brought an end to India's dominance of the sport. Hockey since the 1970s has become faster and more skilful, with the change in playing surface also leading to the introduction of new techniques. Hockey games at the 2012 London Olympic Games will be played at the Riverbank Arena within the Olympic Park. Golden Scots At Seoul, fellow Scot Michael McIntyre also won gold on the water in the Star sailing event.

Public reaction to 1988 Olympic gold medal win stunned GB hockey team | Metro News Public reaction to 1988 Olympic gold medal win stunned GB hockey team Metro Sport Reporter for Metro.co.uk Friday 2 Mar 2012 9:00 am Great Britain 1988 Olympic hockey gold medal winner David Faulkner tells Metro how the team were amazed by the public reaction to their victory. David Faulkner hopes the GB hockey class of 2012 can match the achievements of 1988 (Picture: Getty Images) ‘Winning a hockey gold medal at the Seoul Olympics was a magnificent achievement for the Great Britain team. But while the rest of the squad were celebrating our victory over West Germany, I was whisked away by officials demanding I give a urine sample for a drugs test. ‘I joined in the fun later on but before it sank in that we were Olympic champs there was a sense of utter relief that it was all over and we had not let anyone down. ‘It probably took a couple of days before the enormity of our success hit us.

‘Donât forget that back in 1988 there were no mobile phones, no internet, and contact with the folks back home was very limited. ‘We had very little idea the country was in a frenzy following the 3-1 win in the final â courtesy of a couple of goals from Imran Sherwani and one from the great Sean Kerly. ‘It was a different story when we arrived back at Heathrow because we were greeted by thousands of fans. We had some great players in the squad like Sean and Imran, Russell Garcia and Ian Taylor. ‘Hopefully, the current GB squads will enjoy similar success. They both have the talent to do so.’ GB hockey performance director David Faulkner is backing the Hockey Nation programme aiming to get more people involved in hockey through The npower Big Dribble , Hockey Makers and the Investec London Cup . More BBC Sport - Hockey - Hockey's new golden age? Hockey's new golden age?

England players celebrate winning their first European championship "Where were the Germans - but frankly, who cares?" For many sports fans, commentator Barry Davis's legendary quote as the Great Britain men's team beat West Germany to win Olympic gold in 1988 is hockey's most memorable moment. But success for both England's men and women at the recent EuroHockey Nations tournament in Holland suggests another golden age of British hockey could be dawning in the build-up to the 2012 Olympics. The women's 2-1 victory against Spain to win the bronze medal was encouraging enough, but it was the men's 5-3 win over reigning world and Olympic champions Germany to clinch gold that really caught the eye. 606: DEBATE welshosprey72 Even men's team coach Jason Lee admits to having been slightly surprised. "This was only the second time in the history of European competition that they've been in the European final (the first was in 1987) and it was only the second thing England men have ever won after the 1920 Olympics, when England represented Great Britain, so those facts would suggest it was unlikely that we won," Lee told BBC Sport.

"We played good hockey in the summer and were getting increasingly competitive with the top teams in the world - but I think everyone was surprised at how well we played." It says a lot about the recent fortunes of hockey in England that names from the 1988 Olympic team, such as Sean Kerly, Ian Taylor and Imran Sherwani, are still more widely known than the heroes of the current side, like Ashley Jackson, Barry Middleton and James Fair. But as Lee says, life since 1988 has been far from straightforward. "For a long time there were two governing bodies, the Hockey Association for men and the All-England Womens Hockey Association," he said. "They amalgamated in the 90s but went bust which caused an awful lot of financial challenges, and debts from that have only just been paid in full. "Unfortunately the women failed to quality for the 2004 Olympics and so the sport had a massive financial cut which affected the men and women's programmes. "Luckily, from that period onwards we made small progress in performance terms so we were considered more appropriate for funding, then London won the right to host the 2012 Games.

"That gave us not long-term focus but medium-term focus, and funding which allowed that to happen." For all the talk of the legacy of the Olympics, hockey is one sport that is feeling the benefits before the Games have even taken place. Players like Ashley Jackson benefit from increased funding Lee added: "2012 has brought us more security about funding. It can't be overestimated, particularly for the players. "In the past we've lost a lot of players when we had funding problems. The players weren't sure what the future held, and they had to make a choice about what was better for them - that's one reason we're progressing better now. "We can support players to buy time out of work, so work won't be such a key driver in their lives - they can commit more time to hockey. "We have a good history on that, we've progressed significantly up the international rankings which we hope can get us closer to medal contention in 2012." The England team does not even have a permanent home any more, and cannot compete with countries like Germany or Spain in terms of a professional league, but Lee does not feel that these are necessarily problems. "You only need 16 good players," he said.

"The player pool is not that big but it's not always the answer to have more players. We haven't got the numbers other countries have but we're doing a pretty good job at development. We were the best team at the Europeans but that's the first time it's happened in 20 years - if we want to be medal contenders in 2012, we have to play to that level repeatedly which we haven't done yet "If you asked other countries, they'd say tactically we're strong but technically we're weak, so we're using the additional time we've got to try to move forwards technically." But England's strengths, weaknesses, advantages and problems are of course not the same as those of Great Britain, who will be the team turning out at the Olympics. "The 1988 gold medal winning team was very multinational, with significant players from Northern Ireland and Scotland in the group, but since then until the last two Olympics it's just been English players in the squad," he said. "Scotland and Wales play at a European level below us, so it'd be like picking an international footballer from the Championship or lower, but for the last two Olympics for men there have been five Scots in the squad.

"I'm very aware of the players who would be available from the Home Nations and there's quite a number who have a strong chance of being picked for 2012." Lee's England squad are young but experienced, and have plenty of opportunities to hone their skills in the run-up to the 2012 Olympics. "There's the Champions Trophy in Australia in December, featuring the top six countries in the world, then there are the European Indoor championships in January, the World Cup in February and the Commonwealth Games in October," he said. "One of the challenges of the international programme is that it assumes everyone is a full-time professional, so we don't have any time to rest on our laurels and sit back. Sean Kerly remains one of hockey's most widely remembered players "We were the best team at the Europeans but that's the first time it's happened in 20 years - if we want to be medal contenders in 2012 we have to play to that level repeatedly, which we haven't done yet." A bit more coverage would be welcome, but Lee does not have a major problem with hockey's media profile. "I don't feel we're treated poorly," he said.

"In the British press, football is king, cricket, tennis, rugby and Formula 1 are queens, and the rest are footmen. "It has not always been like that - even the senior team rarely get press coverage, but in comparison to other sports of our nature, we're treated equitably. "Coverage doesn't necessarily impact on performance standards but more coverage would be beneficial." Having already beaten Germany, the best side in the world, up next is the chance to beat the second best side in the world, Australia - always a way to guarantee media coverage, as the cricket team can testify. "The last time we beat Australia was on grass which was about 20 years ago," he said. "We've had quite a few draws since then and Great Britain were 3-2 up in Beijing with two minutes to go but Australia scored in the last minute. "But a win's getting close and it will happen - I just hope it's on my watch." Bookmark with: Where are they now? Hockey hero Sean Kerly - Yahoo Sport Where are they now? Hockey hero Sean Kerly Where are they now?

Kerly By Tony Mabert @tony_mabert, and Reda Maher @Reda_Eurosport 22 March 2012 14:56 Eurosport  The Gary Lineker of Hockey One of the best things about the Olympic Games is seeing sports that usually struggle to get any attention at all suddenly thrust into the spotlight. Such was the case in Seoul in 1998 when the Great Britain men’s hockey team claimed gold. Victory, which came in the same summer that the England football team was humbled at the European Championships, was made all the more sweet by the fact that the team’s march to glory included wins over two of the nation’s oldest sporting foes – Australia and Germany. As with every celebrated team achievements there was a stand-out individual who was the focus of most of the attention: Sean Kerly. A key member of the GB side which had won bronze in Los Angeles four years previously, Kerly quit his job as a marketing manager in the run-up to the Seoul Games in order to have the best preparation possible. The extra work paid off and Kerly starred for the British team in South Korea.

GB qualified from their group as runners-up after a late penalty sealed defeat against Germany. That meant a semi-final against Australia, to whom Kerly and several of his team-mates had lost two years earlier when representing England in the world championship final. However, Kerly ensured revenge against the pre-tournament favourites by scoring both goals at GB went into a two-goal lead. Australia pulled themselves level but, with the prospect of leg-sapping extra time in the Asian heat looming, Kerly exchanged a one-two with Imran Sherwani and scored the winner. That dramatic hat-trick ensured at least a silver medal for Kerly and co, but they went one better by defeating Germany in the final. Sherwani scored twice and Kerly got a third as Britian won 3-1. The team’s second goal was greeted by commentator Barry Davies’s infamous line: "Where, oh, where were the Germans? And frankly, who cares?" Upon returning home the team were afforded a hero’s welcome, and Kerly enjoyed his 15 minutes of fame which, while it lasted, made him as much of a household name as Gary Lineker.

The team won the Team of the Year award at the Sports Personality of the Year ceremony that year, while Kerly was nominated for the individual prize. Unfortunately, the state of hockey in Britain at the time could not maintain the major boost in interest born out of their Olympic success, and it was soon eclipsed once again by the Bobby Robson’s team reaching the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, when Gary Lineker became the Sean Kerly of football. Although he missed out on the SPOTY prize, which went to snooker player Steve Davis, Kerly was awarded an MBE in 1992 for his services to the sport. So what is he up to now? Find out from the man himself… "I live in Herne Bay in Kent, which is where I where I grew up and lived until I was 18, when I moved to Reigate. I moved back here some years later though, and now live in the same house I babysat in when I was 14, which is amusing. "If you plug into a browser you can see three states in which I exist these days – my main job, as a self-employed marketing consultant, plus my hockey commentary and public speaking.

"I’ve never really been just about hockey, and it’s the same today. I always worked, from leaving school – I didn’t go to university – with hockey just my leisure pursuit. When it became a little more serious, I still did it for fun – initially playing for your country is an honour, but then it becomes a challenge. It starts off being about playing for the rose on the shirt, as it was back then, and then the focus switches to doing everything you can to win – but it always stays enjoyable. "My fist proper job was at a travel goods company as a trainee accountant. After learning the ropes I became a transport and distribution manager, which is what I was doing when we won bronze at the 1984 Olympics. By 1988 I was working in marketing, which is what I do to this day. When I was playing I’d change jobs every four or five years and eventually became self-employed: at first everyone’s excited to have a sportsman around but the reality hits – prolonged absences during tournaments, needing time off for training and matches – and in the end you feel like a burden.

"I quit that job for the 1988 Olympics, after which I had my first spell being self-employed, about a year. Then I worked in marketing for an artificial pitch manufacturer, a pottery company in Poole, and an independent school in Canterbury. "I’ve been self-employed for the last eight or nine years, working mostly as a consultant in web design and marketing. We mostly do websites for smaller and medium-sized enterprises, but there’s a lot of crossover as some clients will use us for corporate events and the like. If something requires specific expertise – say a specific type of coding, or specialist event management – we bring in the right people. "In addition I do some commentary work and public speaking. After I stopped playing I reacted against hockey, as I didn’t want it to be my only ‘thing’; but recently I’ve re-launched that side of my life, doing more of it as my business partner has been unwell, and I should be commentating on the men’s tournament during the Olympics, although nothing’s fully confirmed yet. "Speaking of which, I think we have a great chance of winning medals in both the men’s and women’s tournaments this time round.

Obviously the game has changed, but the old favourites are still there – Australia are the top side in the men’s game, while Argentina’s women have been great , but the Germans and Dutch are still very difficult for both. "Our men‘s team has some fantastic talent, winning the European Championships and sitting in the top four; the women finished second in the last world tournament, the Champions Trophy in Rosario. "Both can win medals if they get it right and go on a good run – but the competition is strong." Beijing Olympics – Hockey Guide - Telegraph Advertisement Beijing Olympics – Hockey Guide At the 1908 Olympics in London there weren’t many events in which we didn’t win a medal (Britain won a total of 164) and in the first hockey tournament, we won them all. Eye on the ball: Britain's Crista Cullen will be a key player for the women Photo: Getty Images 2:48PM BST 29 Jul 2008 Read our London 2012 Olympics: hockey guide .

At the 1908 Olympics in London there weren’t many events in which we didn’t win a medal (Britain won a total of 164) and in the first hockey tournament, we won them all. England were first, Ireland second and Scotland third. As Ireland was then considered part of Great Britain (though not for long), this remains the only occasion in Olympic history when one nation has won all the medals in a team sport. At the 1920 Games in Antwerp a combined British team won the title and then the hockey world was turned upside down. Under Dhyan Chand, 22, an army captain, India won the 1928 competition without conceding a goal. No other country would win an Olympic title until 1960 when, to the consternation of the Indian nation, Pakistan beat them 1-0 in the final. India regained the title in 1964 but their aura of invincibility had gone. British hockey rediscovered the glory days in 1988, beating Germany 3-1 in the final. Stoke newsagent Imran Sherwani scored two goals in the final but the team’s most famous player was Sean Kerly.

The first women’s competition, in 1980, was won by the newly independent Zimbabwe, who were called up late for the tournament. It remains Zimbabwe’s only Olympic title. Technical Hockey is played on a pitch 91.4 metres long and 55m wide. Each team have 11 players and each player carries a stick with a curled foot, flat on one side, to hit a ball the size of a seamless cricket ball (and as hard) into a goal that is 3.66m wide and 2.13m high. Each side may have a goalkeeper (you don’t have to) who is padded from tip to toe, as being hit by the ball hurts. You can’t obstruct a player or kick the ball and if the referee does not like what you’re doing, you’ll be green-carded as a warning, yellow-carded for the sin-bin, and red-carded for the early bath. Penalties are the same as in football, except the keeper can’t dance up and down on the line, and penalty corners are unlike football, being arguably the most complicated set-piece in any team game in the history of sport.

The Major Players The Argentine women’s team can turn it on and in Luciana Aymar (known as 'La Maga’ – the magician) they could have the most inspirational player at the tournament. The Dutch could go close to both titles. In their men’s team, Teun de Nooijer is their most influential player. Beginners’ Guide Drag Flick – a hit where the player crouches and the stick is almost flat on the ground. The hit is made with a sweeping motion, the ball running down the shaft until it flies off at the heel of the stick. The technique is frequently used in penalty corners. Useless Information The first hockey club was at Blackheath in south-east London and, in the mid-19th century, they played the game with square balls. Timetable Sean Kerly recalls winning hockey gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics - Mirror Online Sean Kerly recalls winning hockey gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics Countdown to London 2012 - 1,000 days to go Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email Sean Kerly's goals fired Great Britain’s men’s hockey team to a stunning triumph in Seoul - although beating the Germans in the final was not his enduring flashback. Now running his own marketing consultancy in Kent, Kerly says: “My abiding memory was actually of the semi-final, where we were 2-0 up against Australia only to be pegged back to 2-2, and the dreadful prospect of extra time in that sapping heat was almost unbearable. “But then I played a one-two with Imran Sherwani, and I was too exhausted to reach it with an authentic shot, so I lunged at the ball - it was half a dive and half a belly-flop. “When it came flying back past me, I thought it had hit the post. Before I realised it had actually cannoned off the backboard, I was jumped on by most of the guys and it proved to be the winner. “That moment was the most special for me - partly because beating the Aussies is always satisfying, and partly because it took a lot of pressure off us.

We were guaranteed at least a silver medal and our performance against West Germany in the final was almost a bonus.” The Brits have never threatened to emulate Kerly’s class of 1988, although he does rate both our men’s and women’s chances of success on home soil in London. He added: “In a way, the pressure of playing at home can be just as suffocating as playing for a medal thousands of miles away - having all your aunts and uncles coming to watch doesn’t always help because you have to scramble around to find them all tickets. “But our men are showing the right kind of form to launch a serious bid for medals in 2012, and the women are usually ranked among the top six in the world and they are strong at home.”. Like us on Facebook

Question: In which team sport did Imran Sherwani and Sean Kerly win Olympic Gold for Great Britain in 1988?
Answer: HOCKEY